Cartoonist Ken Krimstein Explains the Key to Jewish Humor

By

Ken Krimstein

Oct 2, 2010 12:00 pm ET

When trying to define humor, E. B. White famously opined: “Humor can be dissected, as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process.” Having just written and drawn an entire book of Jewish cartoons, I concur, but I would rephrase the master: “Jewish humor can be dissected like one of my Aunt Estelle’s matzo balls, but who’s got a scalpel sharp enough?”

There’s no question that Jews and their ways of making people laugh have cornered a large part of the humor biz, kind of like guys with plaid coats predominate on used car lots or women with owl-shaped glasses who call everyone “hon” refill coffee at truck stops. Which isn’t to say there aren’t funny Episcopalians or Methodists or Buddhists (name 10?), but, without bringing out the Ginsu knife, what exactly is it about Jewish humor?

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